The ties that bind

Young people reflect on the connection between Macao and the Chinese mainland and the changes that have transpired over a quarter century.

Chan Hou-fong, a 25-year-old cellist from Macao, was born in 1999 — the same year Macao returned to China.

"I grew up alongside the Macao Special Administrative Region", Chan said. "My mom often tells me that she was holding me, just 2 months old, when we both witnessed this historic moment."

In 2017, Chan moved to Beijing to study cello at the Central Conservatory of Music. He recalled that the school regularly organized orchestra performances and exchange events with universities in Macao, featuring a mix of folk songs from Cantonese-speaking regions.